Rome Attractions

Venue: Colosseum    When: Daily

The Colosseum - Rome's most famous Roman monument - still dominates the city after its jubilee renovation.

There's no denying that the Colosseum is still an imposing reminder of Rome's antique past. Moreover, the building enjoyed an overhaul for the year 2000, with part of the long-gone floor being reinstalled to allow events to take place.

Construction work on the elliptical stadium began in around 72AD under the orders of Emperor Vespasian and was completed eight years later. Vespasian's son Titus ordered 100 days of games to commemorate the opening of the venue (film buffs will note that this fact was slotted into the script for Ridley Scott's Gladiator). The building itself was erected on the former site of Nero's villa and takes its name not from its own sheer size but from the massive statue of Nero which stood alongside it.

The Colosseum is built from soft tufa brick with a marble exterior. The original design incorporated three stories, the fourth having been added in 230AD. A close look at the three older tiers reveals the traditional trick of classical Roman architecture: Doric columns are used for the lowest level, Ionic for the second and Corinthian on the third. The eye travels up from the heavier Doric base to the more intricate styles above, giving an impression of lightness unusual in such a massive building.

In its heyday, the edifice could hold around 55,000 viewers, giving some idea of the scale of Ancient Rome. The Colosseum, unlike the statue of Nero, has been given the thumbs-up by history and stays with us as a reminder.